Skirt support for corpses



April 1950 G. F. MCLOUGHLIN, JR

SKIRT SUPPORT FOR CORPSES Filed Dec. 22, 1947 "A W W a, a w "m m WA V mu a IN V EN TOR.

eorge /-T' A" AT TOP/V5 Y Patented Apr. 18 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE SKIRT SUPPORT FOR CORPSES George F. McLoughlin, Jr., Troy, N. Y.

Application December 22, 1947, Serial No. 793,085

My invention relates to the art of undertaking and particularly to skirtsupports for corpses.

At the present time, so far as I am aware, there is no form or supportfor holding the skirt of a corpse in a satisfactorily arrangedcondition. Padding material is usually packed around the lower part ofthe corpse beneath the skirt but it is difficult, if not impossible, soto arrange the packing that the skirt, and particularly the foldstherein, are disposed in a natural manner.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensiveform which may be positioned over the legs and lower portion of a femalecorpse to form a support for a skirt, and over which the skirt will liesmoothly and properly with folds therein of the character whichnaturally develop when a skirt is worn.

I accomplish this object by means of the novel element described belowand illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which my support may be formed,and showing fragmentary portions of tying strings or tape;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the finished form;

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 1 in the plan 3-3 drawn to an enlargedscale; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of the bottom of the form.

Referring to the drawing:

The blank from which my support is formed may be cut out of paperboardor other fairly stilf but flexible material to the shape shown inFig. 1. The blank I, as out, is planiform, and comprises a truncatedisosceles triangle of a length adapted to extend approximately from thewaist to the ankles. The width at the top 2' preferably is such as topermit the top of the form to be curved partially about the front of thecorpse adjacent the waist, and the width at the bottom 2 is preferablysomewhat wider than the inside width of the average cofiin so that, whenthe form is flexed transversely, as shown in Fig. 4, the bottom corners3 and 4 thereof may be wedged between the sides 5 and 6 of the cofiin tohold the support in flexed condition. Extending upwardly from the bottomof the form are a plurality (here shown as 4) of triangular cut-outs 1which are adapted to allow folds of the skirt to depend therethrough.Extending beyond the straight portion of the bottom edge 2 of thesupport, and integral therewith, are portions 8 and 9. Where theseportions join the edge 2, the support may be scored, as shown at It, tofacilitate the downward folding of the portions 8 and 9 into positionssubstantially at rightangles to the main body 8 Claims. (Cl. 223-66) ofthe support. The portions 8 and 9 are arcuate with the portions 9extending across the bottoms of the cut-outs 1, although the portions 9are interrupted or cut, as shown at H. The width of that portion of thebottom of the support, indicated at H, between the openings 1 which areadjacent the center of the support, should be sufiicient to permit theankles of the corpse to be arranged therebetween.

In use, the support is flexed transversely, as best shown in Fig. 4, sothat it forms a portion of a conical surface. When the support is thusflexed with the portions 9 at right angles to the main body of thesupport, the portions 9 at each side of each cut or interruption IItherein, move into overlapped position, as shown in Fig. 2, and also inFig. 4, and may be secured together by staples 12 or other means, asshown in Fig. 4. When secured together, they hold the bottom of thesupport in transversely flexed condition as shown.

Where the width of the support at the bottom is sufficient to allow itto be wedged between the sides of the coffin, the portions 9 need not besecured together; but where the arched width of the bottom of thesupport is less than the inside width of the coffin, the portions 9 maybe secured together. The portions 8 form legs or supports which restupon the bottom [3 of the coffin.

In order to secure the support about the corpse, longitudinally-spacedholes [4 and I5 adjacent the lateral marginal edges thereof may beprovided through which strings or tapes It may be passed under thecorpse and tied to hold the support in position.

While I prefer to form the support of paperboard because it isinexpensive and efficient, it is to be understood that the support maybe made of thin metal, plastic sheet material or even molded intransversely curved condition from papiermach or the like.

What I claim is:

1. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated form adapted toextend from about the waist line to about the ankles; said form beingwider at the bottom than at the top, formed of fairly stiff but flexiblesheet material, and provided in the lower portion thereof with aplurality of transversely-spaced, longitudinallyextending cut-outsthrough which folds of said skirt are adapted to hang.

2. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated form adapted tounderlie and support the front of a skirt on said corpse; said formbeing provided in the lower portion thereof with a plurality oftransversely-spaced, longitudinallyextending openings adapted to havefolds of said skirt hang therethrough.

3. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated form adapted tounderlie and support the front of a skirt on said corpse; said formbeing provided in the lower portion thereof with a plurality oftransversely-spaced, triangular openings extending upwardly from thebottom thereof through which folds in said skirt are adapted to hang.

4. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated element formedof comparatively stiff but flexible sheet material adapted to be flexedto form a transversely-curved, smooth-surfaced support for said skirtwhen positioned thereunder and provided with a plurality oftransversely-spaced, longitudinally-extending, triangularly openingstherein extending upwardly from the bottom thereof through which foldsof said skirt may hang.

5. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated element formedof cardboard adapted to underlie said skirt and to be flexedtransversely to form a convex covering overlying the legs of saidcorpse; said support being substantially wider at the bottom than at thetop and being provided on each side of the center thereof with atriangular openin extending upwardly a substantial distance from thebottom edge thereof and adapted to retain a depending fold of saidskirt.

6. A skirt support for a corpse comprising an elongated element formedof comparatively stiif but flexible sheet material adapted to underliesaid skirt from about the waistline to about the ankles of the corpseand provided in the lower portion thereof with skirt fold receivingmeans extending upwardly from a zone adjacent the bottom edge thereof;and means on said form for securing it in transversely flexed conditionover the lower portion of the corpse.

7. A substantially plane blank adapted to form a skirt support for acorpse and comprising a truncated, triangular element formed of stiffbut flexible material adapting it to be flexed transversely to form aconvex support for said skirt when positioned thereunder; said elementbeing provided with a plurality of transverselyspaced openings extendingupwardly from the bottom thereof adapted to receive depending folds ofsaid skirt, and with laterally-spaced portions attached to the bottomthereof and adapted to be bent downward substantially at right angles tothe plane of said support and to move into overlapped relation when saidblank is flexed transversely; whereby said portions may be securedtogether when said blank is so flexed to hold the bottom thereof inflexed condition.

8. A substantially plane blank adapted to form a skirt support for acorpse and comprising a truncated, triangular element formed of stifibut flexible material adapting it to be flexed transversely to form aconvex support for said skirt when positioned thereunder; said elementbeing provided with integral, co-planar portions extending from thebottom thereof adapted to be bent downwardly substantially at rightangles to said support and to overlap and be secured together when saidsupport is flexed transversely for holding said support in flexedcondition.

GEORGE F. McLOUGHLIN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 845,840 Worden Mar. 5, 19071,697,617 Stringfield Jan. 1, 1929 2,256,043 Cohen Sept. 16, 19412,452,353 Brownson Oct. 26, 1948

